We live in a world where climate crisis is inevitable and our dependence on traditional fuels is significant. The Indian government rolled out the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme to combat this issue. Under this initiative, 10% ethanol is mixed with regular petrol and used as a sustainable alternative. As the concerned authorities aim to achieve the goal of 20% ethanol blended fuel by the end of 2025, the nation is simultaneously facing certain challenges to meet this future demand for biofuel. Let us try to understand the scenario in front of ethanol manufacturing companies in India, and observe its impact across the country.
But, first things first…
What
is Ethanol Blending?
It is a
known fact that Ethanol is derived by processing by-products of sugar
manufacturing. When it is blended with petrol, we call it ethanol blending. It
has several benefits and no environmental damage tops the list. It also cuts
down the cost of importing crude oil from oil-rich nations.
Challenges
in Ethanol Blending
Price
Hike Demand
Last year, the ethanol industry demanded a hike in the price of
its end product. They cited the reason that additional investments require
proper returns that work towards boosting the whole supply. Hence, the ethanol
manufacturing industry in India demanded a rise in the price of ethanol derived
from feedstock other than sugar molasses. Paying heed to these demands, the
Indian government raised the purchase price of ethanol procured from rice and
maize by 7% and 9% respectively.
State
Government Constraints
The EBP programme was initially introduced in limited states and
Union Territories to observe the acceptance rate of the fuel. Therefore, many
states could not be a part of this initiative in the primary stage. These
regions somewhat lost the opportunity to introduce their people to the benefits
of renewable fuels like ethanol. The concerned authorities are further making
provisions to ensure that this initiative reaches every corner of the nation.
Conclusion
When the Government of India introduced the EBP programme,
it had different challenges. It includes 18% GST which was later brought down
to 5% and restricting grain-based distilleries from participating in EBP, but now
encouraging the same. The landscape of ethanol blending has changed to a great
extent, giving high quality ethanol manufacturers many opportunities to
grow today. But the industry still has a long way to reach its bright future
and overcoming these challenges is key to that door.
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